A Study On The Social Integration Of Chinese Americans In California From 1880s To 1980s

Chinese immigration to California began during the Gold Rush of the 1840 s.When Chinese arrived in California,they and their descendants faced a range of employment,language,cultural and psychological challenges,which they urgently were eager to overcome in order to integrate into the mainstream society in California.The current studies focus on the entire Chinese group in the United States,and few focus specifically on Chinese Americans in a certain region.California has been the state with the longest history of Chinese immigration and the largest Chinese population.Therefore,this study intends to take California as a breakthrough.Through the interpretation of social integration theory,the history of Chinese Americans in California falls into three stages from 1880 s to 1980 s.Through careful collection and analysis of secondary materials,this thesis draws a conclusion that the gap between the Chinese Americans in California and the mainstream society in economic,political and cultural aspects has steadily narrowed.Taking Chinese Americans in California as the research topic can enable learners to have a deeper understanding about the Chinese Americans community as well as the difficult process of Chinese immigrants integrating into the mainstream society.At the same time,the interpretation of social integration theory provides a new way of thinking and perspective for the further study of Chinese Americans.